In a bold display of law enforcement vigilance, the Benue State Police Command has successfully dismantled a major criminal hideout in Makurdi and rescued six children from suspected traffickers during two separate, coordinated operations. The developments, which unfolded on Thursday, underscore the police's commitment to safeguarding lives and curbing criminal activities in the state.
According to a statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent DSP Udeme Edet, the first operation began at approximately 6:30 pm following a distress call about a stolen Bajaj motorcycle. Tracking the vehicle led officers to a compound along George Akume Way in Makurdi, where a large crowd had already gathered. Upon entering the premises, police discovered a significant cache of criminal paraphernalia, including eleven suspected stolen motorcycles, forty-seven motorcycle seats, fuel tanks, three mattresses, various criminal charms, a single-barrel firearm, and other items linked to criminal activity.
Tragically, two suspects attempted to flee the scene but were intercepted by members of the public near the BIPC office, who lynched them before police intervention. The suspects were subsequently taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Wadata, where they were pronounced dead by a doctor and later deposited in the mortuary. The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has since taken over the investigation to ensure proper legal procedures are followed.
On the same day, the police executed a second operation along the Orokam-Enugu Road. Patrol officers intercepted a suspicious vehicle at around 5:05 pm, discovering three women—Mrs. Monica Okonkwo, Nkiru Nwosu, and Oyechele Francisca—from Umude Oka Dunukofia in Anambra State. Inside the vehicle were six children, aged between seven and nine years old, identified as Amanda Chukwujekwu, Chioma Maduagwu, Oyechegi Kosisochukwu, Okonkwo Odinaka Chukwu, Arinze Chukwu, and Esther Oluchukwu.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the children had been removed from Divine Peace and Grace Orphanage in Jos, Plateau State, under unclear circumstances. The suspects claimed they were transporting the children to Anambra State. The rescued children have been placed under protective care, while the three women remain in custody as the State CID continues their investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ifeanyi Emenari, condemned the mob action that led to the deaths of the two suspects in Makurdi, calling it a dangerous and unlawful act that obstructs justice, violates fundamental human rights, and undermines police investigations. He urged the public to report suspected criminal activities to law enforcement agencies rather than taking the law into their own hands.
Mr. Emenari reaffirmed the Command’s dedication to protecting lives and property throughout Benue State and assured the public that updates on the ongoing investigations would be communicated in a timely manner. These operations mark a significant step in the fight against crime and child trafficking in the region, highlighting the need for vigilance, cooperation, and adherence to the law.
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